Vehicle tow hook

Abstract

An assembly includes a vehicle frame, a base fixed relative to the vehicle frame, and a hook supported by the base and rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position. One of the hook or the base has a flange and the other of the hook or the base has a pair of extensions. The flange is between the extensions. A post is fixed relative to the flange and engages both extensions. A spring is connected to the post and one of the extensions. The spring is positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly comprising:
 a vehicle frame defining a vehicle-longitudinal axis and a cross-vehicle axis perpendicular to the vehicle-longitudinal axis; 
 a base fixed relative to the vehicle frame; 
 a hook supported by the base and rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position; 
 one of the hook or the base having a flange and the other of the hook or the base having a pair of extensions, the flange being between the extensions; 
 a post fixed relative to the flange and engaging both extensions; 
 a spring connected to the post and one of the extensions, the spring positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position; 
 the base extending from the vehicle frame along the vehicle-longitudinal axis and the post being offset from the vehicle-longitudinal axis; and 
 the base curving from the vehicle frame to the hook in a first cross-vehicle direction along the cross-vehicle axis and the hook curving from the base to a free end in a second cross-vehicle direction along the cross-vehicle axis, the second cross-vehicle direction being opposite the first cross-vehicle direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spring connected to the post and the other of the extensions, the second spring is positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the extensions and the flange are between the spring and the second spring. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the post extends through the extensions and the flange. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the spring and the second spring are coiled about the post. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the post extends through the extensions and the flange. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is coiled about the post. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extensions are rotatable about the post between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base extends from the vehicle frame to the post. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the post is elongated along an axis that is vertical and the hook is rotatable about the axis between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the extensions are spaced along the axis of the post. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a bumper, the hook extending through the bumper in the extended position and recessed behind the bumper in the retracted position. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flange abuts both extensions. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extensions abut the flange in parallel planes. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the extensions each include a planar surface and the flange includes planar surfaces abutting the planar surfaces of the extensions. 
     
     
       17. An assembly comprising:
 a vehicle frame; 
 a base fixed relative to the vehicle frame; 
 a hook supported by the base and rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position; 
 one of the hook or the base having a flange and the other of the hook or the base having a pair of extensions, the flange being between the extensions; 
 a post fixed relative to the flange and engaging both extensions; 
 a spring connected to the post and one of the extensions, the spring positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position; and 
 a second spring connected to the post and the other of the extensions, the second spring is positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position. 
 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the extensions and the flange are between the spring and the second spring. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the post extends through the extensions and the flange. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the spring and the second spring are coiled about the post.